Understanding International Students’ Academic Performance in Top Chinese Universities

Combining theory and case studies, this book explores the factors that influence the academic success of international students in China. It emphasizes the importance of cultural understanding and tailored support systems in improving academic outcomes.

The authors utilize the Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) to examine how students’ academic outcomes are shaped by personal, environmental, and behavioral factors, especially given the unique challenges in a rapidly globalizing educational environment. Using a mix of quantitative and qualitative methodologies, this book investigates various aspects of academic performance, including motivation, self-regulation, and cultural adaptation. A key focus is the application of Attribution Theory, which studies how students’ beliefs about the causes of their academic success or failure affect their motivation and behavior. The authors also discuss the impact of institutional factors, such as faculty support and the quality of educational resources, on student performance.

The title will appeal to scholars and students interested in student mobility, student performance, Chinese education, and international education in China. It also serves as a valuable read for educators and policymakers relevant to the context of China’s increasing prominence as a destination for international education.

Lazarus Obed Livingstone Banda is an accomplished academician and a researcher with expertise in internationalization of higher education at Beijing Institute of Technology, China. Lazarus’s research focuses on student and faculty mobility and its impact on the effectiveness of higher education. A prolific author and active participant in international conferences, Lazarus is dedicated to fostering interdisciplinary inquiry and guiding students towards academic excellence. He is committed to addressing societal challenges and shaping a brighter and more effective future for higher education through his research endeavors.

Jin Liu is Associate Professor at the School of Education, Beijing Institute of Technology, China. He has long been engaged in research on the internationalization of higher education. He has also served as part-time professor at Beijing Normal University, Southern University of Science and Technology, and Lanzhou University in China, and visiting scholar at MIT, Boston College, and Tufts University.